Enigma

August 14, 2013 By in Poetry Tags: , , , , , , , , , 27 Comments

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Rooted in the Greek word for “riddle”

I steady myself

in the middle of the stream

So much rain

I wish I’d worn back straps on my flip flops

standing in the strong current

but

 I’ll not wander in the side eddies

where the slickest algae

coats the surface of the stones

still idling there

passing time as if singular

feigning reflection

 an intoxicated accumulation

of over fertilized organic matter

 girdling themselves

as if they could hold on to the ground

~

My days have been emptying

full of the feeling that I’m living

in two separate realities

  More than a waiting game

too much hard evidence

A pack that needs to be cleaned out

and made into a traveling case of essentials

fit for lifting off and moving

in even faster flowing water.

~

~

photo credit: Russell Tomlin Flickr

~

slipping

July 23, 2013 By in Poetry Tags: 25 Comments

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.

Oh

.

I think

I’ve made a mistake

.

I thought I was the ocean

water and salt filling my bones

that I could continually wash to shore

over and over and over and over and over and over

.

no

I’ll not do it

if it means love has to wait

for me to be flesh

tender

as all living things

.

who am I

but

human

.

.

photo: Matt Wisniewski

Counting cars

July 10, 2013 By in Poetry Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 13 Comments

RED

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I’m just getting used to the old guys next door

They sit on the back porch

drinking and talking

I can’t decipher what they say

not understanding southern

but it’s not too different

than a murder of crows

~

across the street

two fire trucks

three cop cars

and the paramedics

blue and red strobe-alicious lightning these guys like to announce their presence

Should I move my car?

Alcoholic James gives diabetic Eddie

hootch

Someone calls 911

sister June lover of cats and brother Eddie

comes in and slugs room mate James the neglectful

POW

and the cops stand bACK

a broken hand for June and Eddie’s on vacation for a night

James better hide behind that tree.

~

Bella and me

sitting on the stoop

eating homemade popsicles

strawberries, yogurt and SUGAR

(a little bit)

It’s a RED car day!

counting cars

a few silver ones sneak in

but the red cars have it that day

~

~